New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-21
WORK TO AVOID DISASTER.
PROMPT MEASURES WITH A BIG SCHOOL.

paIsIDENr SIMMONS ACTING WITH ENERGY-1HE
DANGEROUS GROVE STREET BOILER
Tho stataments 1t the moohns of the Board Of Edu-
cation on Wednesday about the condition Of Grammar
Rshool No. at Grove and Hudson SITS. caused much
interest in the Of the school yesterday
When the hour tor opening 1t approached the 1000
pupis crowded around the entrances the street. ap
proving strongly tho report that they were to be dis
Missed They were assembled In their Glasses usual
however and continued their studies during the day.
The trustees Of the ward informed MI Sutherland the
principal that they had called srecial meeting be-
fore ordering the school closed. The board OF trus
tees consists of Charles 8. Wright, George Horne,
James A. Seaman, Z. H. l.. Ehlers and E. j. Tnsdale
All were in favor OF closing the school at Pres
dent Simmons and Commissioner Cole, OF the Dosro OF
Education arrived aud while they were III iavor OF
Mr. Simmons suggested that e. the weather mad moo;
Grated and little heat in the boiler woald oe required
during the ay 1t would be safe TO continue the school
lie aasd spsI he would direct the Superintendent of
School Buildings TO make careful inspection az once
and report to him In the afternoon the supernien-
DENT the condition Of the sehOo dangerous
President Simmons SAID that he would order 1t closed
today and would call special meeting Of the Board
of Education to make arrangements for repairing the
building at once -
One Of the trustees said that the Of the delay
In making the to the school was the prejudice
entertained by several commissioners against the con-
tractors who were the lowest bidders The trustees.
lie added, had frequently employed these contractors
and had always obtained good work from them. The
work was advertised and the bids made last Septem-
ber foul months ago. and the work could have all been
done, if the case had been promptly acted on The
work calls for boiler and two new chimneys, ono
at the front aud at the OF the building on the
outside. Each chimney will be egAtv feet high The
old boiler that has given out has ben In use for nearly
twenty years One new boiler vas put in last sum
mer but the heat that has been kept up day and night
during this winter to enable II to do the work OF two
boilers has cracked the brick work all around the
boiler and the entire chimney j. smoked and stained
President Simmons pointed last evening to piece OF
the coruice in Of the rooms near the chimney that
removed by the superin tendent while inspecting
the building The wood was dry as finder and rotted
and scorched IN places.
81 do not think" Mr.. Simmons .aid "that there Is
any danger from fire in the building during such
weather as We now have. But on cold day the
chimney which is an old one becomes too hot to rest
the hand on 1t has reduced this wood work to mere
punk and would be very easy to start it to smoul-
dering. There might be no danger from the fire. but
the apr earance Of the smoke would be enough
70 spread alarm and panic in the schooi. do not
care tai any risks shall order the school closed
tomorrow and will not have 1t opened on any day
when the weather requires extra pressure of steam
Mr.. Simmons issued cali for a special meeting Of
the Board of Education on Tuesday.